Newly Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-13 (Topic 326) related to the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments. The new standard replaces the incurred loss methodology to record credit losses with a methodology that reflects the expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective approach. The Company will be required to use a forward-looking expected loss model for accounts receivables, loans and other financial instruments to record an allowance for the estimated contractual cash flows not expected to be collected. The Company has not restated comparative information for 2019 and no adjustments to retained earnings were necessary as a result of adopting Topic 326.

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company recognizes an allowance for credit losses for financial assets carried at amortized cost to present the net amount expected to be collected as of the balance sheet date. Such allowance is based on the credit losses expected to arise over the life of the asset (contractual term) which includes consideration of prepayments and is based on the Company’s expectations as of the balance sheet date.

Assets are written off when the Company determines that such financial assets are deemed uncollectible. Write-offs are recognized as deductions from the allowance for credit losses. Expected recoveries of amounts previously written off, not to exceed the aggregate of the amount previously written off, are included in determining the necessary reserve at the balance sheet date.

The Company pools its accounts receivable based on similar risk characteristics in estimating its expected credit losses. The Company also continuously evaluates such pooling decisions and adjusts as needed from period to period as risk characteristics change.

Fair Value Measurement. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, which amended the fair value measurement guidance by removing and modifying certain disclosure requirements, while also adding new disclosure requirements. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The Company adopted the disclosure requirements effective January 1, 2020.

Compensation- Retirement Benefits. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14 to add, remove and clarify disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The Company adopted the disclosure requirements effective January 1, 2020.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Implemented

Income Taxes. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12 as part of its effort to reduce the complexity of accounting standards. The ASU enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740, including requirements related to (1) hybrid tax regimes, (2) the tax basis step-up in goodwill obtained in a transaction that is not a business combination, (3) separate financial statements of entities not subject to tax, (4) the intraperiod tax allocation exception to the incremental approach, (5) recognition of a deferred tax liability after an investor in a foreign entity transitions to or from the equity method of accounting, (6) interim-period accounting for enacted changes in tax law and (7) the year-to-date loss limitation in interim-period tax accounting. ASU 2019-12 is effective on January 1, 2021 for calendar year-end public companies and early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt the requirements effective January 1, 2021.

Equity Method Investments. In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, which clarifies the interactions between ASC 321, ASC 323 and ASC 815. The new guidance addresses accounting for the transition into and out of the equity method and measuring certain purchased options and forward contracts to acquire investments. ASU 2020-01 is effective on January 1, 2021 for calendar year-end public companies and early adoption is permitted. The Company plans to adopt the requirements effective January 1, 2021.